Country: Lebanon
Security Forces Using Excessive Force to Clear Streets
ICHR strongly condemns the use of force and violence against the people of Lebanon protesting, and Calls on the authorities to take all feasible measures to protect peaceful protesters and refrain from forcibly breaking up peaceful assemblies.
Lebanese security forces have failed to stop attacks on peaceful demonstrators by men armed with sticks, metal rods, and sharp objects. The security forces have also used excessive force to disperse protests and clear roadblocks.
Using excessive force to disperse protesters has left at least 12 occasions. Security forces have also arbitrarily arrested dozens of peaceful protesters and interfered with people filming the protest incidents.
Lebanese authorities have been increasing their reliance on insult and defamation laws to silence journalists, activists, and others critical of government policies and corruption.
The Criminalization of Peaceful Speech in Lebanon, and country’s criminal insults and defamation laws against people reviling the government’s corruption and reporting on the country’s worsening economic and political situation, must end immediately. Freedom of expression is the people’s right to practice.
Convictions under these laws can lead to prison terms of up to three years. Parliament should urgently put an end to the laws that criminalize freedom of speech.
“Criminal defamation laws are a potent weapon for those in Lebanon who want to silence criticism of civilians about pressing human rights issues.” Said: Ardeshire Zarezadeh, Executive Director for Iran, and The Middle East at ICHR Canada.
Millions of people took to the streets to protest new taxes. The protests quickly evolved into widespread public anger against the entire political establishment, whom protesters blame for the country’s dire economic situation and accuse of endemic corruption. The country is experiencing a dollar shortage, with serious implications for the ability to import necessary goods, including medicine, wheat, and fuel.
“Parliament should ensure that the new media law meets international human rights standards.” Said: The International Centre For Human Rights (ICHR)
Laws that allow imprisonment for criticizing individuals or government officials are incompatible with Lebanon’s international obligations to protect freedom of expression. Parliament should also repeal the defamation provisions in the penal code and replace them with civil defamation provisions.
ICHR strongly condemns the use of force and violence against the people of Lebanon protesting, and Calls on the authorities to take all feasible measures to protect peaceful protesters and refrain from forcibly breaking up peaceful assemblies.